Teacher Programs
Teacher Programs
Each semester, the American Shakespeare Center devotes a seminar to teaching a play from our repertoire. Professor Ralph Alan Cohen, the education staff, and actors provide teachers with a host of materials and techniques for bringing Shakespeare home to their students.
The play-specific seminars focus on making plots, the characters, the words, and the drama of Shakespeare's plays come alive in the classroom. We pay special attention to ways of undoing the "Shakesfear" that so often prevents students from enjoying the plays. We also look at the connections between the plays and standard requirements for English, theatre, and history curriculums.
Spring Teacher Seminar 2008
Friday and Saturday 18-19 April 2008
Blackfriars Playhouse; Staunton, VA
Seminar Fee includes:
• Lectures, workshops, and discussions
• Teaching materials
• Blackfriars Playhouse tour (or tour voucher)
• Tickets to The Taming of the Shrew and The Merchant of Venice
• After-show talk back with actors
• Optional ticket to Henry V (see registration for dates)
• Special pricing for ASC 20th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, 19 April 2008
Tentative Schedule:
Friday, April 18th:
1:00-1:15 Arrival/Registration
1:15-1:30 Welcome - Dr. Ralph Cohen (ASC Founding Executive Director and Director of Mission)
1:30-3:00 The Taming of the Shrew Lecture/ Workshop - Dr. Ralph Cohen
3:00-3:15 Break
3:15-4:30 The Taming of the Shrew Lecture/ Workshop - Colleen Kelly (ASC Director of Education)
4:30-5:30 Optional Playhhouse Tour (or Tour Voucher)
5:30-7:15 Dinner on your own in Historic Downtown Staunton
7:15-7:30 The Taming of the Shrew preshow
7:30-9:30 The Taming of the Shrew
Afterwards The Taming of the Shrew Talkback
Saturday, April 19th:
8:45-9:00 Arrival/Registration
9:00-10:15 The Merchant of Venice Lecture/ Workshop - Dr. Ralph Cohen (ASC Founding Executive Director and Director of Mission)
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-12:00 The Merchant of Venice Lecture/ Workshop - Dr. Ralph Cohen
12:00-12:40 Optional Playhhouse Tour (or Tour Voucher)
12:40-1:45 Lunch on your own in Historic Downtown Staunton
1:45-2:00 The Merchant of Venice preshow
2:00-4:15 The Merchant of Venice
Afterwards The Merchant of Venice Talkback
6:00 Attend optional Gala Performance*
*The 20th Anniversary Gala performance will continue with dinner and dancing at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel. Special pricing is available to teachers attending the Teacher Seminar. Please visit the Gala page for more details about this black-tie event.
Registration Deadline: 11 April 2008